Mother, son sentenced for attempting to illegally export pounamu

A mother and son have been fined $5,000 after attempting to export a significant quantity of pounamu from New Zealand. Boyuan Zhang and Xin Li were apprehended at Auckland Airport carrying nearly 18 kilograms of the culturally significant stone in their luggage. The incident occurred in 2024, leading to the legal penalties for their actions. This case highlights the regulations surrounding the export of protected New Zealand resources.

This event underscores the importance of adhering to cultural heritage and export laws when dealing with indigenous artifacts like pounamu.